Momofuku

4 Bobos

It was the first warm night of the spring--and it wasn't raining!!!--so we took Santuzza to Momofuku on First Ave. The night was absolutely crawling with folks--mostly young--out for a night on the town in the East Village. Of course we got plently of those "what are you doing out so late with a baby" looks (it was 7pm and almost dark), but we forged ahead and dared the 20 minute wait and tight quarters of the restaurant. There were a few more, "what the?!" looks inside, but only from patrons, not from the staff. Instead the staff barley noticed baby and were friendly and helpful all around. The service was excellent, the food a little strange. Arturo LOVED it (where else can you eat pig tails other than at the pet food store?). But for those of us with less adventurous tastes, it was a little overwhelming. Also, there is a very limited offering for vegetarians. The tables are all communal, so it is not ideal for going with baby--lest your neighbor objects--but we sat at the counter and had plenty of room. It was very noisy (I think they were playing Metallica, I swear, and I know I heard Led Zeppelin), but this was to Santuzza's liking, and if she did make a peep, nobody would have noticed her. Don't go if you are worried baby doesn't like loud sounds. Santuzza happens to be used to it (car horns are always blasting outside our windows) so she didn't mind. All in all it was a good night. And a fun place!
Momofuku, First Ave and 10th Street

Bianca

5 Bobos

With a mostly European wait staff, and an all Italian menu, Bianca is just like the restaurants in Rome. Not only did Santuzza feel welcome in the restaurant, she felt absolutely at home! And the food was delicious for the big people. 

Bianca, 5 Bleecker Street.

Why this blog?

When Arturo and I first married, we spent much of our time in Italy. In Rome, as in New York, we often went out to restaurants and bars. There was always the sight of little babies at dinner. Little babies in restaurants (this is especially true in Sicily), mamas ordering, the waiter holding the bambina, papas sipping wine, bouncing their child. This was normal and expected. As NYC bar business owners, we also occasionally saw little ones at Von, our place bar on Bleecker and Bowery. It was always a pleasure to see the babies out and about with their parents.

When Santuzza (her real name is changed for privacy) was born, I was hoping that we could live our lives in New York as we always had, with the occasional night out to dinner, just like we did in Rome. However, this doesn't seem to fly downtown. Often when we go out, we are met with strange looks that seem to convey some puritanical indictment ("how could you bring a small child out at night?"). I started feeling bad about it and foregoing the date. But we want to live with baby Santuzza fully involved in our daily lives. Why should we get a babysitter and keep the baby at home and away from us and away from a fun evening? Why would one think that a baby wouldn't enjoy a night out? Certainly Santuzza does. All those judgmental looks are about to change. The idea that babies don't belong fully in our lives: in restaurants, at gallery openings, at museums, etc. is about to be challenged. Santuzza is leading the way, going out (when she feels like it) and reporting back to you on the quality of the restaurant or event and rating the quality of food, service, and other stuff (including her own comfort factor). She will give each new place a rating based on the five "Nuk" system (that's her pacifier brand), five Nuks being the highest rating and zero Nuks the lowest. Stay tuned for each installment of Santuzza's night out!